Journey to the Magical Beast Mountain Range

At the first light of dawn, Wutan City's eastern gate slowly opened.

A blue-scaled horse emerged, its hooves treading through the morning dew. On its back sat a black-robed youth with the Xuan Heavy Ruler strapped across his back, his gaze as resolute as iron. It was Xiao Yan.

He glanced back at the city gate tower, as though his gaze could pierce the layers of buildings and find the dark-robed figure standing high above.

"Uncle... I'm off."

The softly spoken words scattered on the wind.

Atop the mountain behind the Xiao Clan, Xiao Ze stood with his hands behind his back, watching that figure recede until he vanished at the far end of the main road.

"The Magical Beast Mountain Range... the first trace of the Pure Lotus Demon Flame lies hidden in that ancient forest." He murmured, lightly tapping a fingertip as a thread of deep-blue flame curled around his fingers. "Xiao Yan, you must face this trial yourself."

[Ding! Side story triggered: Tracing Heavenly Flames—Purifying Lotus Demon Flame (Remnant)]

[Mission objective: Help Xiao Yan obtain clues to the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame Remnant]

[Mission reward: Heavenly Flame Resonance Amplifier (increases the success rate of devouring heavenly flames by 30%)]

The corners of Xiao Ze's lips lifted. "The Pure Lotus Demon Flame may be incomplete, but its power to 'purify all things' is precisely the key to evolving the nine nether wind flame. In this game, I won't merely help Xiao Yan rise. I'll also—use his hands to gather all Nine Flames and reforge the foundation of a Dou Di!"

The outskirts of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, dusk.

Xiao Yan made camp in a secluded cave and lit a fire to brew medicine. He took out the Jade Slip containing the "Flame Mantra" that Xiao Ze had given him and studied it again.

"Wind feeds the fire, and fire rides the wind... the nine nether wind flame can stir the fire spirits of heaven and earth and sense the fluctuations of heavenly flames."

He closed his eyes and concentrated, circulating the Flame Mantra. The seed of the nine nether wind flame slowly revolved within his dantian. Suddenly, a faint resonance reached him from deep within the mountains.

"It's responding!"

Xiao Yan's eyes snapped open, a thread of deep blue flashing through his pupils.

He followed the sensation deeper into the dense forest. Suddenly, a stretch of scorched earth appeared ahead. All its vegetation had withered, cracks covered the ground, and a strange, scorched fragrance filled the air.

"Are these... traces left by the demon flame?"

He crouched and touched the ground with his fingertips. A scorching force shot up his arm into his meridians, making even his dou qi seethe slightly!

"Such powerful fire energy! This definitely isn't residue from an ordinary heavenly flame..."

Just then, rustling came from the forest, and several dark figures quietly surrounded him.

"Heh, who would've thought that the Xiao Clan's good-for-nothing would actually find this place?"

"Enough talk. Attack! Take the Jade Slip he's carrying, and we might find the Pure Lotus Demon Flame!"

Five masked figures emerged, each exuding a cold, sinister aura. Twisted runes were embroidered on their cuffs—they belonged to the Black Flame Alliance, an outlying faction of the Hall of Souls.

"The Hall of Souls... coming to your deaths again?" Xiao Yan sneered, holding the Xuan Heavy Ruler across his body. "Perfect. I'll test my newly mastered technique on you—Wind-Fire Thunder Transformation!"

The nine nether wind flame erupted from within him and fused with his dou qi, becoming a bolt of blue-green lightning flame that exploded with a thunderous blast!

Boom!

Three were burned to nothing on the spot. The remaining two retreated in terror, only to be struck by a sweep of Xiao Yan's ruler. The wind flame scorched their souls, drawing shrill, agonized screams.

"Th-this isn't power a Dou Zhe should possess!"

"Run! Hurry, run!"

Xiao Yan watched their fleeing backs with cold eyes and did not pursue them.

"Uncle was right... the power of heavenly flames lies not in strength, but in control. Though I can wield it, I still can't fuse wind and fire perfectly."

He raised his head toward the depths of the mountains, fighting spirit blazing in his eyes. "Pure Lotus Demon Flame... I'll have you, no matter what."

Meanwhile, deep within the Magical Beast Mountain Range, at an ancient altar.

At the altar's center, a wisp of dark-red flame slowly revolved. It resembled a lotus, yet was broken and incomplete. It was the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame Remnant.

Nine stone pillars encircled it, their surfaces covered in ancient runes. Blood-red chains wound between the runes, as though sealing something.

Suddenly, a dark figure emerged from beneath the ground and knelt before the altar.

"My lord, Xiao Yan has entered the mountains. Xiao Ze did not accompany him and is only using a fire spirit to protect him in secret."

"Excellent." An icy voice rang out. "Have the Black Flame Alliance keep harassing him and drive him deeper. Meanwhile, spread the news—the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame Remnant has appeared and will reignite within seven days."

"Yes! But... what if Xiao Yan truly obtains the remnant, fails to fuse with it, and has his soul burned away instead?"

"That's exactly what we want." The shadowy figure sneered. "If he dies, the heavenly flame is ours. If he lives, we'll follow the vine to the melon and find the main flame."

"As for Xiao Ze... he thinks he's laying out the game? Little does he know he's already on our chessboard."

Night, in a secret chamber of the Xiao Clan.

Xiao Ze sat cross-legged at the center of a formation, the nine nether wind flame flowing around him as he held a blood-red jade talisman.

"The Black Flame Alliance... discarded pawns of the Hall of Souls, yet they dare meddle in matters involving heavenly flames." He sneered. "It seems the Hall of Souls can no longer restrain itself."

He crushed the jade talisman. A streak of blood-red light shot out and flew straight into the distance.

"Since you want to play, I'll—make this game a little bigger."

[Ding! Hidden mission triggered: Flame Scheme]

[Mission details: Use the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame Remnant to lay a trap that draws the Hall of Souls, the Gu Clan, and the Misty Cloud Sect into the game, sow chaos, and seize the initiative]

[Mission reward: Heavenly flame fusion secret art, "Nine Flames Return to Origin Art" (incomplete), Dou Di remnant soul fragment ×1]

A brilliant gleam flared in Xiao Ze's eyes. "Nine Flames Return to Origin... it's finally beginning."

He raised a hand, and the firebird appeared once more. Carrying a Jade Slip in its beak, it flew toward the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

A line of small characters was engraved on the Jade Slip:

"Yan'er, the altar is a trap. The true flame is at the Cliffside to the northwest. Go there at once.—Ze"

Winds rose and clouds surged, with murderous intent lurking beneath.

And Xiao Yan had already taken his first step toward a heavenly flame.

The storm was coming.

Next chapter preview: "The Altar's Treacherous Scheme"

Xiao Yan stumbled into a trap laid by the Hall of Souls—the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame Remnant was actually bait. Xiao Ze's fire spirit descended, and father and son joined forces to break the scheme, obtaining their first clue to a heavenly flame. But an even greater crisis had already begun creeping toward Wutan City.